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Financial Commentary. October 2009
Published November 4, 2009 | 
Hi All,
Here is an update of what’s been happening in the Currency Markets throughout October with the Euro. Continue reading
Cost of Living in Lanzarote
Published November 3, 2009 | “How much money would we need to live on in Lanzarote?” This is a question we are asked frequently.. and one to which there is no stock answer. It really does depend on your personal circumstances… and how much you want to get out and about, either eating and drinking, or going shopping for pleasure etc. Continue reading
Rozalen Zentrum Wagen – Exceptional service!
Published October 13, 2009 | I’ve recently been trying to get my rusty old Suzuki Jeep through its ITV again and in the process experienced some of the the best service I have encountered since moving here. Having failed the ITV, I went over the San Bartolome road looking for parts at the Suzuki dealers – Rozalen Zentrum Wagen (they work on all makes of car) and got talking to Jaime over there.
I often feel a bit stupid walking into a Spanish business with frankly, my very poor Spanish. But, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
The young man in the showroom introduced me to his boss, Jaime – who’s English is far better than my Spanish, who not only helped me out with the parts, has since offered me no end of advice and help, including a couple of invaluable tips on the ITV process. Even to the point of offering to bring in a part from his own car that he thought might substitute a part I was looking for so as to check before spending out on a new one.
The moral of the story: So many English speakers on this island tend to be a little afraid, if their command of Spanish is not so good, of the Spanish don’t be. What’s the worst that can happen? You may even end up finding a real gem of a business like this one – and save money into the bargain.
I can’t speak highly enough of this place, and know where I’ll be taking my car to in future.
Rozalen Zentrum Wagen
Ctra. San Brtolome 23
35500 Arrecife
Tel: 928 80 25 72
Edit: Sadly this business has now closed. However, we are still in touch with Jaime, and wish him all the best of luck in the world.
Financial Commentary. Sept 2009
Published October 3, 2009 | GBP/EUR
The month started with mortgage approval data from the BBA (British Bankers Association) showing a rise from 35.6k to 38.1k, a 76% increase on the year. However, focus fell upon the fall in net mortgage lending (£2.2 billion to £1.6 billion) as homeowners and consumers continue to pay down debt. Similarly, another monthly rise in the Nationwide house price survey sent the annual decline to just 2.6%, but worries about the lack of properties for sale distorting the figures and the unavailability of mortgage deals for 1st time buyers, meant this data also contributed to the negativity surrounding Sterling. Continue reading
Financial Commentary. Aug 2009
Published September 1, 2009 | GBP/EUR reached back to 1.18 for the first time since the end of June. Recent data again demonstrated the contrast between the UK and the EU with the former’s service sector survey rising for the 3rd month in a row above 50 and the EU’s falling short at 45.7. The UK also recorded monthly gains in industrial production, while EU retail sales remained stubbornly negative. Continue reading
Financial Commentary. July 2009
Published August 1, 2009 | Just when the green shots were at their greenest with consumer confidence and house prices running high and Sterling reflecting the momentum of this recovery, the final reading of Q1 GDP (Gross Domestic Product) brought everything crashing back to earth. Despite this data being considered historic (we are a clear quarter further on now), the fact that growth dropped by 2.4% (almost 10% if annualised), the deepest in 50 years, was a reminder of how severe this recession has been thus far and therefore how fragile this
recovery seems in comparison. Continue reading
Kids Fly Free – May 2009
Published May 9, 2009 | Spanair are running a special offer right now – but you’ll have to be quick… because it runs out on May 11th 2009.
Kids can fly free when their flight is booked before May 11th, and their journey is before September 30th. It is only for Stockholm, Copenhagen, Munich and and Frankfurt… and the origin airport must be Spanish.
More information (plus Ts & Cs) - here
Remember too, that if you have your Residencia – that Spanair offers massive discounts on your own flight prices.
New computer shop in Playa Blanca
Published May 2, 2009 | I went into the newly opened computer shop in Playa Blanca – Beep. Not expecting much as walking in they didn’t appear to have much stock. At that time I didn’t realize they were part of a chain…
We were looking for a joystick, there were none in stock, however, the girl at the desk was extremely helpful showed us the available range and said it could be ordered in fairly quickly. I was impressed.
Though not really looking like much – the range available on the Beep website is excellent. It might look a little unassuming – but to all intents and purpose we now have access to the kind of range of products you’d expect from the likes of PC World in the UK.
Spain Property Owners Can Save Money
Published May 1, 2009 | Paying the annual taxes on your property in Spain is usually done by your asesoria or legal representative, and can cost a fair amount of money to process – usually in excess of €100 each year. Continue reading
Cheap calls to Lanzarote
Published April 3, 2009 | Making cheap calls to Lanzarote from the UK is a much better way for keeping in touch with friends and family – and a sure fire way to help you settle quickly into living in Lanzarote. Continue reading
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